Bathing cap



June 9, 1942. T. J. HowLAND BATHING' CAP Filed April 1:5, 1940 ZINVEN'TOR l Patented June 9, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAT,Hlllir GAP Thomas J. Howland; Longranch, N. J.

Application April 1 3, 1940, SerialNo. ,329,421

11 Claims This invention relates to articles of wearing apparel, such as bathing caps, rubber boots, and the like, and is concerned more particularly with a novel article of this character which may be wornV with comfort and at the same time is` extremely resistant to the seepage of fluid into the article. The article of my invention is .of a simple construction adapted for manufacture at low cost and is substantially .water proof by reason of its inclusion of a novel ribbed structure which prevents the passage of water into the article under the edges thereof, even when the article is subjected to severe use. This 'application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 222,127, filed July 30, 1938, which issued July 2, 1940, as Patent No. 2,206,402.

For illustrative purposes, the principles of the invention will be described .and illustrated in connection with a bathing cap, .although it .will be understood that the invention is not limited to this use but is applicable to other articles of wearing apparel as Well.

In bathing caps as commonly made, there is a tendency for water to seep into the interior of the cap body between the edge of the cap `and the head of the wearer, the amount of seepage depending on how tightly .the cap fits the head. It has been proposed heretofore Yto reduce the amount of seepage ,by providing von the inside of the cap body one or more encircling ribs which extend around the cap .near its lower edge so as to engage the head of the wearer. These ribs have taken various forms, but in nearly all instances they extend straight inwardly from the cap body and at their free ends are flat, concave or convex. While ribs `of this type serve to reduce the amount of seepage, they are not entirely satisfactory for .the reason that they have a relatively great resistance to stretching and do not readily bend or incline so as to accommodate the size and the irregularities of the wearers head, whereby they tend to impair the comfort of the wearer. This is especially so when a pair'of parallel encircling ribs are employed which are braced by cross ribs, since the latter add materially to the stiffness of the encircling ribs.

Another form of encircling rib employed heretofore is relatively thin and flexible and projects inwardly a substantial distance from the inner surface of the cap'body, so that Whenthe cap is applied to the head the rib is forced toward -a fiat position against the inner surface and only one side of the rib contacts the head. VWhile caps employing encircling ribs of v.this .form Jare generally more comfortable .than those .having relatively stiff ribs, they are not water-tight in normal use.

The .presentinventiom therefore, is directed to the provision of a novel bathing cap which overcomes these objections to prior caps .and which is both comfortable and water proof. to a high degree. A cap made in accordance with my invention comprises a cap body of any desired form made of rubber, Yor the like,land.hav ing at least onerib .on the inside of the cap extending substantially parallel to the edge `and preferably encircling the cap. The rib is flexible and may normally extend straight inwardly from the cap body or at an obliqueangle thereto, but ineither case it is characterized 1in that it may be deflected laterally, preferably by a biasing edge at its free vend located on one side of its center line. rIlhus, when the cap is put on, the off-center edge is the rst part of Ithe rib to engage the head of the wearer, .and by reason of the flexibility and locationlof this edge it is .upset in kthe direction in which it is offcenter and ycauses therib .to deflectin thatdirection. Since it is .deflectable laterally, the -rib readily adapts itself to the .contour of the head by deecting more or less under the action of the pressure of the head against the rib. However, the main body ,of the rib is `sufliciently stiff to prevent the rib from upsetting completely and maintains the lagging side of Vthe deected rib firmly against the head.

On the lagging side of the rib is a longitudina g-roove disposed between the free Vend Vportion of the rib andthe adjacent part `of the cap body. Preferably, ,the free end portion of .the rib is inclined from the off-center edge toward thecap body, and thegroove extends into the side of the rib under the inclined, free end portion. The sides of the groove may be constituted by the body of the rib or by longitudinal fins projecting from the side of the rib, Aorby both, but in any case the deflection xof the rib under the action of the off-center edger causes jthe lagging side of the rib near its free end to contact the head of the wearer so'that the side edges of the groove are pressed against the skin. The pressure between the edges of the groove and the head of the wearer is effected partly by `the cap body and partly by the tendency of the ,rib to straighten itself, and as a result of this pressure and the deflection of the rib, the sideslof the groove iare forced apart and the groove is .made shallower so that a suction is created therein.

Due to the suction provided at the side of the rib adjacent the head, the rib is caused to engage the head more snugly and seepage of water into the cap is more effectively prevented. The sides of the groove may spread apart more or less under the pressure of the rib against the head, whereby the rib acts as a cushion to accommodate irregularities in the shape of the head, absorb shock, etc. In the preferred construction, a second rib is arranged on the inside of the cap body parallel to the first rib, and the off-center edge of the upper rib is disposed above its centerline, while the off-center edge of the lower rib is disposed below the centerline of the latter, so that the ribs are deflected away from each other and a suction space is created between them which supplements the suction effect in the ribs themselves. If desired, the' two AVribs* may be braced by cross ribs which limit the deflection of the encircling ribs.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side View of one form of a new bathing cap made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a section of the encircling ribs shown in Fig. 2;

Fig, 4 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the encircling ribs shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of modified forms of the encircling rib; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional View of the ribs shown in Figs. 2 and 3 illustrating the action ofthe ribs when the cap is applied to the head.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates a bathing cap of any desired form comprising a hollow .body II made of rubber, or the like, the body being shaped to t the general contour of the head. Secured along the inside edge of the body II is a rubber cup band comprising a base I2 and two pairs of spaced, parallel encircling ribs I3, the ribs extending generally parallel to the edge of the cap. Between each pair of encircling ribs are cross ribs or bracing ribs `I4 which may extend at oblique angles to the encircling ribs in zig-zag fashion. The cross ribs I4 serve to brace the encircling ribs and tend to prevent them from being bent over completely against the cap body when the cap is Worn.

The uppermost encircling rib I3, as shown, extends inwardly from the cap body at right angles thereto and terminates at its free end in a relatively thin edge I5 located on the upper side of the center line of the rib. From the edge I5, the freeend portion I6 of the rib slopes downwardly and toward the cap body and terminates in a relatively thin edge I'I on the lower side of the rib. The edge I'I partly denes a longitudinal groove I8 disposed under the inclined end portion I6 of the rib, preferably a substantial distance from the base of the rib.

The rib I3 directly below the uppermost encircling rib terminates in a thin edge I5 located on the lower side of its center line and is formed with an oblique end portion I6 sloping upwardly toward the cap body and terminating in a relatively thin edge I1 which partly denes a groove I8 in the upper side of the rib. Thus, the free end portions of the two ribs are inclined in oppo- Vis, off-center.

site directions, and the two grooves I8 and I8 face each other.

The pair of encircling ribs I3 near the lower edge of the cap are identical with the upper pair and need not be described in detail.

When the cap is worn, the free ends of the encircling rib I3 are engaged by the head 29 of the wearer and are upset, as shown in Fig. 8. More particularly, the off-center edges I5 and I5 are the parts of the ribs which first engage the head, and by reason of the flexibility of these edges and their locations, each edge is deflected by the head in the direction in which it That is, the edge I5 of the uppermost encircling rib is deected upwardly and Y upsets this rib so that the lagging or lower side of the rib engages the head. Thus, the side edges'of the groove I8 are pressed against the skin by the cap body and by the tendency for the rib to straighten itself, so that these edges of the groove are spread apart and the groove becomes shallower," As a result, a suction is created in the groove which prevents shifting of the rib against the skin and more effectively resists'seepage of water into the cap body. It will be observed that the upsetting of the rib causes the inclined end portion I6 to lie substantially ush against the head and causes the lower edge I9 of the groove to engage the head with a substantially line contact, whereby the groove is effectively sealed.

The encircling rib immediately below the uppermost rib I3 vis deflected downwardly, since its initial skin-contacting edge I5 is on the lower side of its center line.V Accordingly, the side edges of the groove I8' are pressed against the skin and a suction effect is provided in this groove as well. Also, since the end portions of the two encircling ribs are bent in opposite directions and the space between these ribs is made shallower, a suction is created in this space which supplements the suction effect in the grooves I8 and I8. The tendency for the two encircling ribs to deect away from each other is opposed by the cross'ribs I4 which lend a certain degree of stiiness to the bodies of the encircling ribs so that onlytheir end portions are substantially deflected. In the deflected positions of the two upper ribs, the suction space between themis separated from the suction spa-ces in the grooves I8 and I8', so that if the suction in one of the spaces is .broken for any reason the suction in the other spaces will not be affected.

The lower pair of encircling ribs I3 is deflected in the same manner as the upper pair, as shown in Fig.'8.

With'this .construction-the free end portions of the encircling ribs are deflected more or less depending on the pressure exerted by the ribs on the head of the wearer, and, therefore, the cap may readily accommodate itself to the contour of the head. ABecause of the olf-center edges at the free ends of the encircling ribs, the latter are always deflected in such a manner thaty each rib is biased away from the rib with which it is paired and in a direction such that the side edges of its groove are forced against the skin, whereby the desired suction is provided between the ribs and in their respective grooves which acts to maintain the engagement of the'ribs with the skin, secure the capagainst shifting on the head, and prevent seepage of water which might otherwise occur.` The grooves- I8l and lI8 serve not onlyto provide thedesiredv suction 'effect in the ribs themselves but also to cushion the edge portion of the'cap on the head, since -the5greater the pressure of the cap against the head, the more the side edges :of the respectivegrooves will spread to accommodate the pressure.

While I have shown Ia cup band I2 rinside the cap having four encircling ribs, it will be understood that only one encircling rib or any other number may .be employed, although I prefer to use at least one pair of encircling ribs so as `to form a suction space between them. The cross ribs I4 maybe straight or concave at their free ends, instead of convex, as shown, and may be arranged to form suction l.cups which are diamond-shaped, square, oval, etc., instead of triangular. Also, the cup band I2 may be vmade integral lwith the cap body or it may be made in a separate piece and cemented to the-body.

yThe cup band vshown in Fig. 5 comprises a base 22 on the inside of the capbody, and an encircling rib 23 projecting inwardly from the base. The rib 23 is normally `inclined at an oblique angle to the base 2,2 and is formed at its inner end with an initial skin-contacting edge 124 flocated on one side of the lcenter line ,of the rib. From the edge .24, the ,end portion vof the rib slopes upwardly toward the base, as shown at 25, so that the free end of the rib gradually increases in thickness. In the'upper or lagging side of the rib is a longitudinal groove .26, the edges of which are constituted by lns 21 and 28 projecting from the side of the rib. The iin 21 is disposed at the upper edge of the inclined end portion 25, while the iin 28 is between the n 21 and the base of the rib. When the cap is applied to the head, the oif-center edge 24 is deiiected downwardly so as to tilt the end gportion of the rib and cause the nns 21 and A28 to contact the skin. Due to the pressure of the rib against the head, ns are forced apart and a suction is created in the groove 26 which is sealed by the ends of the ns.

The band shown in Fig. 6 comprises a base 30 on the inside of the cap body, and an encircling rib 3l projecting at right angles to the base and terminating at its free end in a thin, initial skin-contacting edge 32 disposed on one side of the center line. The free end portion of the rib slopes upwardly from the edge 32 toward the base 3l), as shown at 33, and terminates in a relatively thin edge3ll on the upper side of the rib. A longitudinal `groove 35 is formed in the upper side of the `rib and is defined in lpart by the thin edge 34 and in part by a longitudinal fin 36 disposed between the groove andthe base 35. It will be apparent that when the off-center edge 32 contacts the head, it is deflected so 4as to tilt the rib 3| downwardly. As a result, the lateral edge 34 and the side iin 33 are pressed against the skinand forced 4apart so as to create the desired suction effect-.in the `groove 35.

In the construction shown in Fig. 7, an encircling rib 38 extends inwardly from the cap body and is normally inclined atan oblique angle to the adjacent surface of the cap. The rib is relatively thick at its base but tapers toward its free end where it terminates in an enlargement 39. This enlargement projects upwardly and away from the base so as'toform a longitudinal groove 4I) in the upper or lagging side of the rib, the groovebeing dened in part by the overhanging portion of the enlargement 39 and in part by the' lagging side of the tapered portion of the rib. The enlargement 39,'as shown, terminates in a relatively thin, initial skin-contacting edge 4I located on the lower side of the cen- 15er line 0f .the-rib. When-'the edge '4| contacts the Skin, .it d eets the .end portion 0f the vrib downwardly so that ,the ,lagging rside of the tapered-part oftherib;engages theskin. As aresult, `the vedge -4I and Lthe opposite side of the groove 40 -are forcedgaparttand :the desiredsuction is created in `the-groove.

It will be apparent that the cross ribs lmay take other forms and maybe disposed in other arrangements than those illustrated. For example, -they may extend at Aright angles to 'the encircling iribs Vor `they may .cross each other. Also, v they may extend only `partly across the space between the encircling ribs or, instead of projecting intothis space, they may extend from the ,side 4vof each encircling rib remoterom the adjacent encircling rib. 'The term fn as used herein is intended to denote any protruding vedge sharp or rounded, formed by two intersecting surfaces. n

In-the foregoing description and in the following claims, rvthe expression"centerline ofthe rib is intended to denote an imaginary `line bisecting the outer end of the rib proper, that is, the end of the rib adjacent the cap body, the line being perpendicular to the adjacent surface of the cap body or other rib ,supporting member. The expression olf-center, as v used in reference to the initial skin-contacting edge of the rib, means that this edge vis offset from the centerline on one side thereof. The word side, as used in the .claims in reference to the rib, is intended to denote one of the lateral facesof the rib disposed between its freeend portion and the rib support, as distinguished from the -freeend of the rib, which lmay `be a straight oran inclined surface, as in Figs. 4, V5 and 6, or athin edge, 'as in Fig. '7.

I claim:

1. In an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, an elastic rib on .the inside `of the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and projecting inwardly with its freeend `terminating in an initialgskin-contacting edge located on one side of the center -line of the rib, the r-ib being iexible and yreadily deectable laterally whereby said edge when pressed against the skin is deiiected Ain the directioninwhich it is off-center and tilts the rib in `said direction, the rib having a longitudinal groove in-its `lagging side confined to said lagging side vand disposed between the free end portion of the rib-and the adjacent part of the body, the side edges of the groove being, operable to Contact the skin when the rib is deflected and thereby seal the groove.

2. In an article'of apparel comprising a hollow body vhaving an opening therein, an elastic rib on the inside of the -body vextending generally parallel to the margin of the opening andprojecting inwardly with its vfree end terminating in .in its lagging side confined to said lagging side and disposed betweensaid inclined end portion and the ,adjacent partvofthe body, the side edges of the ,groove being operable to contact the sk in when the rib is deected and thereby seal the groove.

3. In, an article ofn apparel comprising'a hollow body havingV an opening therein, an elastic rib on the inside of theA body extending generally v parallel to the margin of the opening and projectingV inwardly with its free'end terminating in an in'-j itial skin-contacting edge located on one side of the center line of the rib,` the rib having its end portion inclined from said olf-center edge toward the body and being ilexible and readily deflectable laterally whereby said edge whenv pressed against the skin is upset in the direction in which it is off-center and tilts the rib in said direction, said inclined end` portion terminating in an edge partly defining a longitudinal groove in the lagging side of the rib under the end portion and connedto said lagging side, the side edges I'of the'groove being operable tol contactV the lskin when'the rib is deiiected and thereby seal the groove.

4. In an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, an elastic rib on the inside of the body Yextending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and projecting inwardly with its free end terminating in an initial skin-contacting edge located on one side of the center line of the rib, the rib being flexible and readily deflectable laterally whereby said edge when pressed against the skin is deected in the direction in which it is off-center and tilts the rib in said direction, the rib having a pair of spaced, longitudinal iins on the lagging side thereof partly defining a suction space between them, the fins being operable to contact the skin when the rib is deflected and thereb seal the groove.

5. In an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, an elastic rib on the inside of the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and projecting inwardly with its free end terminating in an initial skin-contacting edge located on one side of the center line of the rib, the rib being flexible and readily deflectable laterally whereby said edge when pressed against the skin is deflected in the direction in which it is olf-center and tilts the rib in said direction, the rib having a longitudinal groove in the lagging side thereof confined to said lagging side and disposed bev tween the free end portion of the rib and the adjacent part of the body, the rib also having ns along the side edges of the groove operable to contact the skin when the rib is deilected and thereby seal the groove.

6. In an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, an elastic rib on the inside of the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and normally projecting inwardly from the body at an oblique angle to the adjacent surface of the body, the rib being flexible and readily deflectable laterally whereby the free end thereof when pressed against the skin is deflected in a direction in which the rib is inclined and tilts the rib in said direction, the rib having a longitudinal groove confined in the side thereof remote from the body and disposed between the free end portion of the rib and the adjacent part of the body, the side edges of the groove being operable to contact the skin when the rib is deflected and thereby seal the groove.

7. In an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, an elastic rib on the inside of the body extending generally parallel tothe` margin of the opening' and projecting inwardly with its free rend* terminating in an initial skin-contactingfedgelocated on one side of the centerline off the rib, the rib being flexible andv readily deflectable laterally whereby said edge when pressedagainst the skin is deflected in the directionli'n which' it is off-center and tilts the'rib in said direction, the free end portion of the Vrib being Yinclined away from said edge toward thebody, the rib having a longitudinal groove confined in lthe lagging'side *thereof under said end portion and defined partly by one edge of said end portion and partly by a laterally extending fin on the lagging side of the rib, said last edge and nn being operable to contact the skin when the rib is deflected and thereby seal the groove.

Y 8. In an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, anAelastic rib on the 'inside' of vthefbody 'extending generally parallel tothe marginof the opening and projecting inwardly from' the body, the rib having a laterally facing, longitudinal groove on one side thereof, the side of the groove remote from the body being constituted by an overhanging part of the rib forming an initial, skin-contacting edge operable on contact with an object in the body to deflect the rib toward the side opposite said groove, whereby the side edges of the groove contact the skin and seal the groove.

9. In an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, an elastic rib on the inside of the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and projecting inwardly from the body, the rib tapering from the base thereof to an enlargement at the free end of the rib, the enlargement projecting at an oblique angle from the main body of the rib and defining with said rib body a longitudinal groove on one side of the rib, the enlargement terminating in an initial skin-contacting edge disposed on one side of the center line of the rib and being operable when pressed against the skin to deflect the rib in the direction in which said edge is off-center and thereby tilt the rib in said direction, the side edges of the groove being operable to contact the skin when the rib is deflected and thereby seal the groove.

10. In an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, a iiexible elastic rib on the inside of the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and projecting inwardly from the body, and a pair of longitudinal ns on one side of the rib confined to said side and disposed between the free end portion of the rib and the adjacent part of the body and partly defining a, suction space on the side of the rib, the rib being readily deflectable laterally to cause the fins to contact the skin and seal the suction space.

1l. In an article of apparel comprising a hollow body having an opening therein, a flexible elastic rib on the inside of the body extending generally parallel to the margin of the opening and projecting inwardly from the body, the rib having a longitudinal groove in one side thereof confined to said side and disposed between the free end portion of the rib and the adjacent part of the body, the rib being readily deectable laterally to cause the side edges of the groove to contact the skin and thereby seal the groove, the groove providing a suction space remote from said end portion.

THOMAS J. HOWLAND. 

